>> 'A NATURALIST IN MID-AFRICA. 



Makwenda's little round camp and green masses 

 of banana plantations. Away to the south-east 

 stretched the grassy plain, with two little bright 

 lakes and a corner of Lake Ruisamba in the 

 distance. To , the east this ended in the dark 

 forest and distant and confused hills of Kivari. 

 All round my camp were grassy hills and knolls 

 covered with a few fields of beans, and (in the 

 barer and drier parts) supporting quantities of 

 beautiful orchids and flowering shrubs. Just 

 above me lay the dark forest, and the ascent was 

 so steep (nearly 70 degrees) that I could only 

 see the bamboos on the extreme summit of the 

 ridge, and had to imagine the snow peaks behind. 

 This chief Makwenda I found to be a most 

 entertaining person. He had tried to prevent 

 my reaching the mountain, but as I would not 

 stop, though I listened gravely to his arguments, 

 which lasted all day when he got the chance, 

 we began to be friends. He had not the most 

 rudimentary idea of the truth, but grew to re- 

 spect me when he found that I always appeared 

 interested in his stories, though it was obvious 

 I did not believe a word of them. He also 

 realised that the cloth and beads which I gave 

 for my food were a good institution,, and we 

 really began to appreciate one another. He 

 offered me everything he had (when he knew I 

 did not want it), and was very anxious to marry 

 me, which showed a good feeling. 



